Brands You Will Never Buy From

[Penne Stilografiche]

I wouldn't buy a pen made by...

• Lamy
• Krone
• Marlen
• Rotring
• Bic
• Papermate

I wouldn't buy any Modern (post1975) pens made by...

• Parker (with the exception of Jotter Ballpoints)
• Waterman

[Nashten]

I will never buy an Italian pen. Overpriced, QC issues now and just unnecessary... However, the Homo Sapiens is on my list. I have an affinity for that pen I cannot describe. But if I do get it, it is being sent straight to a Nibmeister to get tuned to my specifications.

 

I won't buy modern pens from Cross, Parker or any of the other major brands. But I did win a Cross Sauvage Ballpoint sometime ago, and that has made me want to buy the fountain pen version of it. (Blue Azurite/Crocodile by the way) Such a beautiful pen. Very robust too, surprisingly. I also have a Waterman Hemisphere and that was my intro into the world of fountain pens. The cross would also be sent to a Nibmeister, most likely Mr. Pendleton for his Butterline Stub.

 

I will also never buy a Montblanc. Although, I do have an affinity for the 'Blanc' part of their name. That stems from a fictional character I happen to find interesting. So a MB 146 might land on my desk one of these days and I can be at rest with that affinity.

 

No LAMY. I greatly dislike their designs. No Noodlers, because as much as I like tinkering... I just don't have that feeling with their pens.

 

But mostly now that I am a part of a Pen Club (Yay Vancouver!) and I can try pens before I buy... Whatever I like to write with best will end up being on my desk!

 

Since then, vintage, vintage, vintage!

Edited August 1, 2013 by Nashten

[grahamtillotson]

Agreed on Parker, Waterman, and Sheaffer. Love the old ones, hate the new ones. The only exception on this one is the Waterman Charleston, which I like.

 

I love TWSBI and have been behind them since the beginning. True, they had the plastic cracking issues early on, but their service is outstanding and the products are getting better. Nibs are now Bock, which are lovely. And the corrections to the initial issues with V1 of the Micarta were so good I bought two of them.

 

The Platinum Preppy. I know a lot of people like them, but the plastic is junk and cracks.

 

Rotring. No issues with quality, but generally the nibs are like nails and that isn't my thing.

 

Noodlers? Never again. Tried to like the products and the story but the Ahab line was inconsistent and the Konrads were terrible. Had three Konrads and threw them out one day to just be done with them.

 

Tombow. Can't understand why those pens cost so much. Had one and it seemed cheap.

 

And that crazy Sylvester Stallone pen -- Chaos. Yikes. I can honestly say I'd never buy that one.

 

Graham

[Florida Blue]

 

I won't buy modern pens from Cross, Parker or any of the other major brands. But I did win a Cross Sauvage Ballpoint sometime ago, and that has made me want to buy the fountain pen version of it. (Blue Azurite/Crocodile by the way) Such a beautiful pen. Very robust too, surprisingly. I also have a Waterman Hemisphere and that was my intro into the world of fountain pens. The cross would also be sent to a Nibmeister, most likely Mr. Pendleton for his Butterline Stub.

I have a Cross Suavage in the Blue Azurite Crocodile finish and I love it! It is one of my favorite pens. The nib on it is quite splendid. If you haven't seen it in person you will probably be surprised at how small it is compared with other giant modern gold nibs, but it writes great. The nib is very soft and actually has a degree of flex to it. I can get a fair amount of line variation from it. Plus, the finish is so pretty

 

Sometimes when you try a company's wares you learn that you have been missing out. I used to hate Cross pens until I bought an Apogee super cheap and I loved it so much that I bought a Suavage. I'd recommend looking into the Apogee and the Townsend as well.

[Nashten]

I have a Cross Suavage in the Blue Azurite Crocodile finish and I love it! It is one of my favorite pens. The nib on it is quite splendid. If you haven't seen it in person you will probably be surprised at how small it is compared with other giant modern gold nibs, but it writes great. The nib is very soft and actually has a degree of flex to it. I can get a fair amount of line variation from it. Plus, the finish is so pretty

 

Sometimes when you try a company's wares you learn that you have been missing out. I used to hate Cross pens until I bought an Apogee super cheap and I loved it so much that I bought a Suavage. I'd recommend looking into the Apogee and the Townsend as well.

 

Such an enabler. I do love my Sauvage ballpont though and adding the fountain pen to make a set would be awesome. And Flex you say? Now it is on my list for good.

 

They are fantastic looking pens. People compliment that pen before any of my fountain pens because it is so striking!

 

I also agree with the last statement you made. That's why, although I am against a few brands and such, I aim to have a pen from them to try them out. Hence the Homo Sapiens, MB 146, might get a Lamy 2000, etc...

[proton007]

Why the hate against Lamy?

 

Yes, I agree their designs aren't really for everyone, but they seem to be one of the few companies that have made FPs with modern designs, something that appeals to youngsters. And given you don't buy their pens on retail, they're not that expensive to begin with.

After using FPs in childhood, I rediscovered them with a Lamy.

 

For experienced users, yes, I understand there are better options, but to me Lamy seems to be one of the few pen makers that is trying to bring these pens into a contemporary setting. Its remarkable because this is something where many giants (Parker/Waterman/Sheaffer/Pilot) have failed.

[Nashten]

Why the hate against Lamy?

 

Yes, I agree their designs aren't really for everyone, but they seem to be one of the few companies that have made FPs with modern designs, something that appeals to youngsters. And given you don't buy their pens on retail, they're not that expensive to begin with.

After using FPs in childhood, I rediscovered them with a Lamy.

 

For experienced users, yes, I understand there are better options, but to me Lamy seems to be one of the few pen makers that is trying to bring these pens into a contemporary setting. Its remarkable because this is something where many giants (Parker/Waterman/Sheaffer/Pilot) have failed.

 

The Lamy Studio appeals to me quite a bit actually. I love the two-tone nib certain options of it have. If I were to get a Lamy, it would be that. And actually, it is now definitely on my list.

 

Per-se, I don't hate Lamy. Their designs are a hit or miss for me.

 

Each to their own indeed! Regardless if I like brands or not, their pens will find their way to my desk and I will test them through time. Only then can I actually adhere to my buy/don't buy list!

[theexpanciluser]

probably twisbi, i don't really like the way it looks!

[proton007]

 

The Lamy Studio appeals to me quite a bit actually. I love the two-tone nib certain options of it have. If I were to get a Lamy, it would be that. And actually, it is now definitely on my list.

 

Per-se, I don't hate Lamy. Their designs are a hit or miss for me.

 

Each to their own indeed! Regardless if I like brands or not, their pens will find their way to my desk and I will test them through time. Only then can I actually adhere to my buy/don't buy list!

 

Yes, the Studio is a gorgeous pen. I myself have been thinking of getting the Platinum grey.

Given that Lamy doesn't play safe with their designs, its bound to have strong reactions. I may not like all their pens, but I do respect their courage.

[Belgian FP fan]

MontBlanc

 

I am sure that they make nice writing instruments but i dislike their fake Swiss luxury image. The name alone, the Mont Blanc mountain is on the French Swiss border, 1200 kilometer away from Hamburg. And then the snowflake edelweiss sign, not much edelweiss on the industrial lowlands near Hamburg.

[SeeksAdvice]

#1 - Monteverde

 

#2 - Noodler's pens - I've met sieves that have fewer leaks than the Noodler's RB.

 

#3 - Noodler's ink - though might need to get some Q'ternity for fast-dry applications.

 

#4 - Private reserve - I prefer to keep my microbial experiments in the Petri dish.

 

#5 - TWSBI - There's something about 100% failure rates (3 of 3 pens I bought) that I don't like. They might have great customer service, but that doesn't help you when you are wearing the ink inside due to a pen failur, and it's the morning of a jury trial.

 

#6 - J. Herbin pens

 

#7 - Waterman - had a hemisphere fall apart on me

 

[Opooh]

Never say never again. The fact that some brands aren't represented in my collection only means I am not aware of any affordable pen in their production, but maybe in the futur, who knows.

[LukeSkyliner]

Montblanc. My first expensive pen was a Montblanc because of their saturation advertising. It wrote okay, but one day it rolled off my desk onto a wooden floor and the barrel shattered. Montblanc customer service said 'too bad for you' and did not offer to help. I went back to them and said I needed a new barrel and they said they would sell me one but the price was almost as much as the pen cost me. I will never buy another Montblanc after that terrible experience. And ever since I have discovered all kinds of pen brands that are better made, write more smoothly, are nicer looking, cost less, and have customer service departments who actually care about customers.

 

My sentiments EXACTLY re MB, Kimo. The collection is now over 100 FPs and none is a MB after my own early experience with them. I may try a vintage MB later on, but . . .

[georges zaslavsky]

Parker Pens because Sanford stole me of 60€ I asked for cap exchange and what I got in return was an exchanged cap but also a scratchy nib.

 

Waterman because like my favorite dealer Mr Mora told me, they offer nothing new and since the end of production of the man 100, they propose nothing stellar or extraordinary.

 

Visconti because of the finickiness of the quality control and the stiffness of the nib, the packaging and celluloid body are not enough to convince me more than 500€ on a pen.

 

Delta because most of their nibs are dull, characterless and offer no line variation. I also hate lever fillers.

 

Aurora because of the stiffness of their nibs and unpleasing aesthetics of their pens. Tried several auroras but I dislike them.

I will add to this list TWISBI, Elie Blue, chinese pens and the modern Tibaldis.

[UncleNick]

I haven't ruled out and particular brand. I do avoid any pen with a metal section or precious jewels (P51s and Vacs don't count as jewelled!). I wouldn't buy a modern Parker as I have been unimpressed by their customer service. Most limited edition pens I find unappealing (although the MB Hemingway has a good understated look to it).

[vondauster]

Personally don't care for heavy, blingy pens, so David Oscarson is right out. On the other extreme Noodlers don't do anything for me either… But never? If someone offered to sell me a DO pen for US$20, I'd buy it.

 

Then sell it straightaway.

 

Will

[mori45]

I never say never, 'cause I'm sick of eating crow.

 

 

....then I get over it and enjoy my shiny new, whatever it was I said I would never buy.

......50th anniversary corvette with tan top!!

 

Take note--with enough hot sauce, everything tastes the same .

[WilsonCQB1911]

Probably Pelikan. I really didn't like my M600. The nib was just so scratchy and awful for a pen at that price. The tines were aligned, so it wasn't an alignment issue. I wanted an M1000, but this cured me of that.

[Edwaroth]

I doubt I would ever buy a modern Montblanc, vintage is a totally different game. I can almost assure you I would never buy from Montegrappe or Krone, some of the least attractive pens on the planet.

[VladDracule]

Honestly ive had bad experiences with just about every company ive bought from.

 

Pilot: 2 Vanishing points, medium nib is a hard starter, fine nib works fantastic

TWSBI: Have a 530, and 580, previously had a vac. The Vac had major startup issues (it was an early model and likely fixed)

Pelikan m215: Works just as advertised

Visconti: LOVE my Homo Sapiens, my Salvador Dali behaves...odd

Nakaya: Probably the only consistant buys ive made. Own 2, both work fantastic.

 

If i had to pick a single brand it would probably be TWSBI. Ive owned 3, two had many problems even after including multiple nib/feeds tried